Giardino Giusti
At the top of the garden's cypress avenue, a grotesque stone mask stares down from the hillside — and from its mouth, centuries ago, fire would issue to unsettle arriving guests. That theatrical instinct runs through everything at Giardino Giusti. Laid out from 1570 by Agostino Giusti on land his family had used for wool-dyeing since 1406, the garden arranges cypress trees, clipped boxwood, fountains, a shell-and-coral grotto, and one of Europe's oldest mazes on a slope above the Adige.
The belvedere behind that mask gives you one of the cleaner views of Verona's roofline — which is why Goethe came, and Mozart, and a long procession of grand tourists who left their names in the visitor books of the attached palazzo.
💛 What travellers fall for
People who return tend to go straight past the parterre and up to the belvedere before the tour groups settle in. The grotto rewards a slow look — mirrors at the back, the ceiling encrusted with shells and mother-of-pearl, and a coolness that earns its keep in July. The maze is small enough to solve, large enough to lose a child in for ten minutes.
The story behind Giardino Giusti
Provolo Giusti bought this strip of land beside the ancient Via Postumia in 1406, and for nearly two centuries it was a working site — cauldrons for boiling wool, lines for drying dyed cloth. The transformation into one of Italy's canonical Renaissance gardens was the project of Agostino Giusti (1548–1615), a cultured man with connections reaching from the Medici to the Habsburgs, who conceived the layout around 1570.
The palazzo was built in the style of Michele Sanmicheli; the grotesque mask is attributed to Bartolomeo Ridolfi; Luigi Trezza redesigned the maze in 1786; and Lorenzo Muttoni supplied the mythological statues — Diana, Venus, Apollo, Adonis, Atalanta — that still stand in the French-style parterre added in 1765. The garden was damaged in the Second World War and restored, and in 2020 a storm brought down a cypress that had stood for six hundred years.
Good to know
Bus 73 towards Piazza Isolo drops you 140 metres from the gate. Summer hours run until 8 pm, giving you the garden in softer light; last entry is one hour before closing. The Verona Card covers admission. Closed 25 December.
Spring and early autumn are the easiest seasons — mild enough to walk the full slope without effort, and the cypresses read well in that light. Summer afternoons get hot on the upper terraces; the grotto earns its keep then. Winter visits are quieter but the garden closes an hour earlier and some of its texture is lost without foliage.
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What travellers say about Giardino Giusti
A hidden gem in Verona! A stunning Renaissance garden offering incredible peace away from the crowds. The labyrinth is fascinating, and the viewpoint at the top provides arguably the best panoramic view of the city. The palace is also worth visiting for its elegant frescoes. Highly recommend for an authentic experience!
A beautiful and peaceful Renaissance garden with great views over Verona. Very well maintained and perfect for a quiet walk away from the crowds. Entry was easy with the online ticket, smooth and well organized. Definitely worth a visit.
Amazing garden. A great place to hide from all the people on the streets, noise and city overall. Do not skip the building. Amazing interiors. Dogs are welcome in the whole place. We visit every time we are in verona.
The most precious place in Verona - at first glance it is just a small garden, but when you start exploring - turns out there is a second tier with amazing Verona view and also access to beautiful apartment with garden view. 15 euro is not a small amount but you can reduce it if you present tickets from gallery in the centre.
A stunningly beautiful botanical garden that invites adults and children alike to stroll around and explore for hours. The lush vegetation and shady benches allow for a quiet rest during a hot summer day. From the ancient fountains to the hedge maze to the beautiful view above the city from the highest point, it is a must see in Verona.
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